At the age of twenty-six, I found myself both happy with single life and worried that it would never end. I had done quite a bit of growing as the years had gone by but I realized that I still had a lot more maturing to go.

I valued my space and my freedom and I didn't truly believe I would ever become a spinster. Even though I was sure I could find someone, I was plagued by the annoying feeling that I was running out of time. I could feel the urge to be some man's mate and some child's mother as keenly as I could see the seasons continuing to turn. Who knew that my days of being a bachelorette were already numbered and that love had plans of its own?

In the fall of 2001, I got quickly attached to the internet and AOL chat rooms while babysitting at my sister's house. I was amazed at the awesome number of people I could meet and the incredible array of interests that humans could share there. It was just a couple of months into my online journeys that I met a nice fellow with a humorous screen name using the word "cat". Any cat lover can't be bad (don't tell me different) so we chatted amiably for a while in that psychic chat room we were in. When we decided to say good-bye, we agreed to put each other on our buddy lists and talk later. We made it crystal clear, though, that we were not looking for anything other than having someone to chat with, to just be friends. We were both single and, at the time, not having the pressure of a romantic relationship was just fine with the both of us.

About two years later, in late 2003, this man whom I looked at as one of my closest friends (and who had an insatiable lust for road travel) decided to come visit me for a few days from his home in New York State. We were mentally and emotionally close by this time so I had no reservations about this visit. He was an open fellow and I have no sense of personal privacy and, I guess, that made for an easy friendship because I wasn't worried for my safety at all. The visit only lasted a few days but the impression stayed with me a while longer. You see, meeting my online friend in person sparked odd feelings in me that took a while to figure out.

As the months went on, we kept our friendship alive and fresh just by talking, comparing and being genuinely interested in one another. Aaron, this friend who was gaining such a huge purchase in my life, told me of his feelings for me first. I, being of the shy, never-been-kissed type, wasn't sure what to think. He is not the type to pressure anyone so he expected no answer nor did he make me feel insecure about continuing to just be friends. It was something he just wanted me to know. It was a few months after that visit and a few weeks after his confession that I awoke one morning with the sudden, time-stands-still realization that I was in love. I took it calmly enough… but kept it to myself.

It took over a year for our next visit to take place. It was January 2005 and cold and we were at the beach of all places, metal detecting for him and collecting shells for me. We developed a closeness there that continued when we went home and beyond to keep us bound when we separated once again. It was the innocent closeness of two people finding each other in a world of other people. It was only a few weeks later over the phone that he asked me to marry him. With my immediate answer of 'sure', we made plans, using our old stomping ground, the internet. Our next meeting was just two days before our little wedding at the local county courthouse.

Being of a naturally quiet person, I rarely left my home and did not often associate with too many people outside my family. I didn't date and I am just now learning how to deal with other people on this Earth. Aaron, my husband, was just the opposite and, yet, he yearns for a quieter life where he can enjoy the softness and security of marriage to a friend. I, myself, am left in awe of how things came together. Not because of the way we met or how we connected without touching, but because, some how, love found a way, all on its own.